John McCain Jokes About His Rivals On The Daily Show

NEW YORK — Of the Democratic presidential candidates, would Republican John McCain rather take on Barack Obama or Hillary Rodham Clinton?

"You know, Ron Paul is still in the race," McCain joked Wednesday during a taping of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart."

McCain deadpanned about the marathon race between the Democrats: "I hate to watch it. It's terrible. My heart goes out to them."

During the taping, McCain pretended to walk off the set when Stewart pressed him on whether President Bush is more of a liability for him than the Rev. Jeremiah Wright is for Obama. Then McCain fiddled with his microphone and mouthed "technical difficulties" into the camera.

The all-but-certain Republican nominee did reveal a few tidbits. His Secret Service code name, he thinks, "is 'jerk,'" and his choice for a vice presidential running mate is Dwight Schrute, a character on the NBC sitcom, "The Office," played by Rainn Wilson.

Comedy aside, McCain used the opportunity to challenge Obama, who moved a step closer to claiming the Democratic nomination after Tuesday's primaries in Indiana and North Carolina. Stewart asked whether McCain really believed the Islamic terrorist group Hamas had endorsed Obama. McCain's campaign issued a fundraising letter after a Hamas adviser, Ahmed Yousef, said the group likes Obama.

"It's indicative of how some of our enemies view America," McCain said. "And I guarantee you, they're not going to endorse me."

Off camera, Obama's campaign said McCain should apologize for "repeating tired and divisive attacks about Barack Obama that he knows are flat-out untrue."

Comments

[ibivi]

Jon opens his show by ridiculing and satirizing the stupid things that politicians do. He then turns around and plays suckup to his political guests. Isn't he cancelling out his message? Or is there no message and it's all just entertainment? If it is just entertainment, he should stop being so smug.

[mamacat]

Maybe old age tends to make us more mild in our likes and dislikes. I find McCain rather likeable. He has a sense of humor, he's self deprecating, he dresses nicely.

But I sure wouldn't vote for him for President. Might have voted for him in 2000, but no way in hell will I vote for him in 2008.

Jon Stewart is showing us people who are important. He is not rude to them, and does not directly try to tell us what to think, but tries to ask questions and point out facts that might help us to think for ourselves.

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

I agree mamacat. I thought he was respectful, yet thought provoking.

But I can't help to wonder what would happen if he asked him if he really called his wife that nasty name. Would he be dragged off like the pastor who asked him the same question a few days earlier?

I believe McCain has two VERY different sides.... and if he gets elected, we are not going to see the nicer side.

[waynesmyer]

We refer to that condition as "multiple personality disorder" which can develop to a psychotic level , when reality contact becomes tenuous as in "Bomb! Bomb! Bomb! " Iran? Iraq? San Francisco? Dr. Strangelove
"I never really wanted to ride the bomb, I thought maybe Baby George would" Sen. John McCain, REPUKE-Arizona

[brainlego]

Likability is not really that important since many of these people are well studied into the machivellian ways. For the neocons it is pretty much a motto but all politicians are salesmen in one way or another.

[rcampbell]

Mamacat wrote:
I find McCain rather likeable. He has a sense of humor, he's self deprecating, he dresses nicely.

Mama: People said the same thing about GWBush in 2000. How'd that work out for us? Perhaps it's about time American voters consider raising their standards. This isn't the high school prom and the "likeable" guy in the White House has done an enormous amount of damage to our economy, our Constitution, our international standing and the way we feel about ourselves as world citizens.

I remember a line from the film in which Michael Douglas played the President running for reelection against Richard Dreyfuss' character (cant recall the title). The line goes something like: "...These are serious times and we need serious people...." We NEED Barack Obama.

[frankifrost]

Do you think that he seemed "rather likeable" to his trophy wife
when he threateniingly called her
a CUNT in public.
PS
You can deny it all you want;
it is documented that it happened;
just like all his other tirades in public forums.
Do you want this brute to have his hand on THE BUTTON?
Maybe you do!
Maybe you hate yourself and are suicidal.!

[mymonie]

If it's documented, why not provide the proof?

[Dave01]

It is finally showing here on the west coast......I had to look but why isn't John McCain wearing his "flag lapel pin"?

Only reason I ask is because we all know how much BULLSHIT Obama got for not wearing one 24/7. Hmmmmm, I wonder if Pastor Hagee loves this country as much as McCain does. LOL!!!!!

[ThomasMc]

Jon Stewart sure gives a lot of air time to conservatives, doesn't he? And his fawning over the likes of Musharraf sickens me.

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

I don't think so. I think he is just being fair. When he puts them on the seat, he always manages to squeeze in a good questions.... that makes people think and ask more questions.

Jon simplifies politics.... and that's great.

[brando]

I can't believe you'd be so simplistic in your approach.

Where were the thought-provoking questions that make people ask more? This is a refrain I hear often but yet holds absolutely no water whatsoever. Are you really that simple? Christ. I guess you answered your own question with what you look for - simplifying politics from a barely funny comedian (the goofy looks and guffaws grow reaaaaaaaaaaaaaal stale real fast) with solid writers?

Yikes.

Speaking of apologist jokes...

[movealongtrain]

I have stopped watching Jon Stewart as I have sadly come to realize that his schtick about Obama - or any African American person, really - always seems to involve pointing out that he or she is black.

He always fawns a bit over McCain which I find unsettling as well.

He should just take over for Letterman and be done with it. He is no longer very funny.

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

I really think that Jon mentions "black" as sattire to show how people in this country judge others by their skin color..... he is pointing out how prejudice is alive and well here in the US.

[hbw3]

I agree - I really liked the (eventually) nuanced take he had on Senator Obama's speech on race especially. The locking the car thing was really clever at bringing out white nervousness. Though the sketch was uneven the end was amazing.

The clip is at the bottom:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/19/jon-stewart-gets-all-earn_n_92448.html

[iPolitics]

It won't be funny when his anger causes diplomatic problems with foreign leaders. Or a war.

[LiberalBuzz]

Doesn't Jon any ANYONE else he can bring on the show? I am sick to death of seeing that tired old feeble McBush showing up on his show. Jon may like him but encouraging someone who simply wants to continue the 8 year disaster that is the Chimpy McFlightsuit administration is just plain wrong.

It's NOT censorship to ignore him, there are hundreds of righwing nutjob places he can appear on who will be happy to let him spew his lies and flip flopping. Democrats already know how full of shit he is, no need to continue to allow him to spew it on Jon's or any other progressive show.

If he became president (PLEASE GOD..>NO NO NO NO) I guarandamntee he would appoint judges who be ecstatic to find some way around the pesky 1st Amendment to silence Jon. and others who oppose the third term of Chimpy.

So there is no since in allowing a future anti American president like Chimpy on his show, there are tons of other places for him to spew.

[toby25]

"tired and divisive commenst about Obama that arent true"??? Well look who's talking !! Obama has been twisting the 100 year war comments into pretzels. ..along with the worst DNC Chairman ever: Howard Dean.

[hbw3]

But toby25, Senator McCain said it. YouTube it if you didn't see it.

Why can't he be called upon to explain himself? This is a very important policy question. I don't want a military presence in Iraq for the next hundred years, whether peaceful or otherwise. Why are you giving him a pass?

[mymonie]

McCain's point is that the US will most likley have a presence in Iraq for the next 100 years, as we do in Germany / Japon and other place around the world. He was not saying we are going to have an active war for the next 100 years.

The truth is McCain's the only one to admit the truth. Obama / Clinton just feed you left wingers what you want to hear, the truth is they will NOT pull troops out of Iraq, and advisors for BOTH camps have admitted that serveral times.

Moreover, neither candidate is anti-war. Obama / Clinton both say to get out of Iraq and put more troops in Afgan.

Maybe someone should ask Obama / Clinton how long we will be in Afgan?

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

I'm an certain that McCain actually said "50, maybe 100"....right?

Are you denying that? How about his singing "bomb, bomb Iran".... still twisting?

You're an idioit.....oh, I just realized your name was "toby"...ok, that says it all.

[hbw3]

Though I agree with you, let's leave the name calling to the neo-cons who've got us here.

I have gone down that path too and ultimately it was not helpful. We are better than that.

[NC4Obama]

Please show this video of McCain and Stewart it shows a lot about McCain.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=85762&title=sen.-john-mccain-pt.-1
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=85762&title=sen.-john-mccain-pt.-2

[aristippe]

"A nice IED to put under your desk," McCain. Nuff said.